Report: Cuomo might roll back or eliminate a proposed Thruway toll hike
Gov. Cuomo might roll back or eliminate a proposed
massive hike in New York State Thruway commercial tolls as the leaders of the
Legislature, for the first time, have come out against the plan.
Sources told The Post that Cuomo is reviewing the
Thruway’s plan to hike tolls 45 percent beginning Sept. 30 in an effort to
raise an additional $90 million annually from trucks and other commercial
vehicles. Some of the new revenue could be earmarked for Cuomo’s proposed $5
billion-plus new Tappan Zee Bridge.
State business leaders and the New York Farm Bureau have
been warning for weeks that the toll hike could severely harm the
already-struggling upstate business climate and add to the state’s reputation
as hostile to business, a reputation Cuomo says he’s trying to change.
“The governor is going to take a hard look at the toll
hikes. He knows the impact it could have, and he’s concerned and wants to see
what could be done,’’ said a source close to the administration.
A main concern for the governor, the source said, is the
possibility that Thruway bonds may be downgraded by Wall Street rating agencies
if a strong alternative source of revenue isn’t found.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan)
and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau), in their first public
comments on the proposal, told The Post they want to see the toll hike
canceled.
“I think the proposal is far out of line,’’ Silver said.
“We don’t want people to avoid our highways, which do
attract business to the state. If trucks have to pay additional charges, it’s
only going to be reflected in what consumers pay.
“I’m sure the [Thruway] Authority could look at making
economies, including refinancing some of its debt with the lower interest rates
out there,’’ Silver continued.
Skelos said New Yorkers “have had it with high taxes and
want government to be more efficient. Therefore, I do not support higher taxes,
fees or tolls.”
“We need to do even more to help business succeed, grow
and create jobs here in New York, not put more obstacles in their way,’’ he
said.
Meanwhile, Cuomo, aware that the legislative leaders fear
that talk of a pay hike for lawmakers could sink some members running for
re-election in November, won’t raise the matter any more with them until after
the November ballot.
Several state lawmakers, including Silver and, most recently,
Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester), a close Cuomo political ally, have
been publicly urging a pay raise, noting lawmakers have not had a salary
adjustment since 1999. Lawmakers now receive a “base pay’’ of $79,500 a year,
but many make substantially more than that with extra “leadership’’ stipends. A
new base pay of just over $100,000 has been discussed.
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